Pharmacological induction of use-dependent receptive field modifications in the visual cortex

Lasting modifications of the receptive fields of neurons in the visual cortex can be induced by pairing visual stimuli with iontophoretic application of the neuromodulators acetylcholine and noradrenaline or the excitatory amino acids N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and L-glutamate. The modifications are obtained in less than 1 hour and persist for more than 40 minutes. Thus, acetylcholine and norepinephrine have a permissive role in use-dependent neuronal plasticity. These results support the notion of a postsynaptic threshold for neuronal malleability that differs from that of sodium-dependent action potentials.     

Image reconstruction of the interior of bodies that diffuse radiation

A method for reconstructing images from projections is described. The unique aspect of the procedure is that the reconstruction of the internal structure can be carried out for objects that diffuse the incident radiation. The method may be used with photons, phonons, neutrons, and many other kinds of radiation. The procedure has applications to medical imaging, industrial imaging, and geophysical imaging.     

Determination of linuron in potatoes using capillary column gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A convenient method for the determination of the N-methyl,N-methoxy-phenylurea herbicide (linuron) in potatoes has been developed. The herbicide is extracted from potatoes using a slightly modified Luke multiresidue procedure. The extract is analyzed directly by gas chromatography with cold on-column injection, using an ion trap mass spectrometer in the chemical ionization mode as the detector. Quantitation is performed using p-bromonitrobenzene as the internal standard. The limit of detection is 0.1 ppm. Recoveries of linuron in potatoes averaged 112 +/- 6% at the 0.5 ppm level, and 110 +/- 2% at the 0.2 ppm level. No linuron residues were found in 25 potato samples that were analyzed by this method. Two other N-methyl,N-methoxy-phenylurea herbicides, metobromuron and chlorbromuron, are also sufficiently stable to be determined by this method, but the N,N-dialkyl-phenylurea herbicides neburon, diuron, and monuron are too thermally unstable and degrade in the gas chromatograph.     

Post‐displacement community resilience: Considering the contribution of indigenous skills and cultural capital among ethnic minority Vietnamese

Despite an improving regulatory framework and policies governing compensation and resettlement, the majority of the millions displaced worldwide each year by hydropower dam construction continue to experience marginalisation and impoverishment, suggesting that external financial support must be supplemented by strengthened community‐based resilience. In order to understand more about the innate resources of displaced rural communities, we applied a community resilience approach to two resettled Co‐tu ethnic minority villages in an upland area in central Vietnam to identify their community capitals and their application in improving livelihoods and living conditions. We found that weak human and financial capital constrained the ability of the resettled residents to adopt new livelihoods or migrate to seek employment. Reduced forest and river access also problematised responses to a lack of agricultural land. However, traditionally strong village affinity and social networks were retained. In addition, indigenous skills such as housing construction, honed by a highly mobile traditional lifestyle, allowed residents to construct culturally significant structures like community houses and modify or augment received housing stock. These elements of social and cultural capital eased the process of post‐resettlement adaptation. We conclude that governments should reassess current resettlement policies that prioritise financial compensation and should incorporate awareness of the adaptive resilience and limitations fostered by indigenous knowledge and practices in resettlement action plans.     

A survey on hydatidosis in livestock in Northern Iran based on data collected from slaughterhouses from 2004 to 2008

Data have been collected from slaughterhouses in three provinces across the Northern Iran (Gilan, Mazandaran and Golestan) from March 2004 to March 2008. These data were collected to evaluate the prevalence of hydatidosis in slaughtered cattle, sheep and goats. During the study, 3,347,797 animals were slaughtered. These included 621,686 cattle, 1,719,725 sheep and 1,006,386 goats. The prevalence of infection in cattle, sheep and goats was 12%, 14.6% and 10.1%, respectively. The association of condemnation rates with seasons was not proven statistically.     

温度对AFLP银染检测的影响

在家蚕AFLP分子标记多样性的研究中发现温度对AFLP—银染的结果有一定的影响。本实验以湘晖与872杂交的91个F2个体为材料，对AFLP银染过程中温度的影响进行了分析。温度试验结果显示：在25℃左右进行胶板的前期处理和凝胶的制备为最佳温度。     

Changes in the electric resistance of the vaginal mucus in oestrous sows

Changes in the electric resistance of the vaginal mucus were monitored in a large pig herd at 4-h intervals with a heat detector (Hauptner, Federal Republic of Germany) in multiparous sows (n = 16; litter size = 11.4 +/- 2.9) that showed a positive standing test and conceived. The initial value of resistance was 74.4 +/- 7.4 ohms. In 36 h this value gradually increased to 93.6 +/- 7.6 ohms. One to 2 h after the artificial inseminations (AI) lower resistance values were obtained, though the difference was not statistically significant. In the second part of the experiment 73.9% and 82.7% of the gilts (n = 92) and multiparous sows (n = 98) conceived, respectively, with an average litter size of 9.6 +/- 2.2 and 11.0 +/- 2.7, respectively. The conception rate of animals that immediately before AI had vaginal mucus resistance values between 75 and 90 ohms was about 20% higher. The only exception were 8 multiparous sows which had an average vaginal mucus resistance of 70 +/- 4.6 ohms after the first insemination. Litter size was also the biggest in sows with vaginal mucus resistance between 75 and 90 ohms. This difference was statistically significant for the multiparous sows. The heat detector is considered to be a useful complement to conventional methods of oestrus detection.